parsons



No. 608,969. Patented Au 9, I898.

c. A. PAR s. MARINE STEA RBINE.

(Applicat' non filed Mar. 4, 189B) I71 7 IZZO r MM g/LQW No. 608,969. Patented Aug.9, I898.

C. A. PARSONS.

MARINE STEAM TURBINE. (Application med Mar. 4, i898.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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(No Model.)

MARINE STEAM TURBINE.

(Application Patented Aug. 9, I898. PARSONS.

filed Mar. 4, 1898.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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I 17/ are 711307" u Lim ceptional conditions.

mm STATES;

OIIARLES ALGERNON PARSONS, OF NEWOASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND.

MARINE STEAM-TURBINE.

SPEG'IFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 608,969, dated August 9, 1s9s.

Application filed M r h 4, 1898.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES ALGERNON PARSONS, engineer, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Heaton Works, Newcastleeupon-Tyne, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Marine Steam-Turbines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to marine steam-em gines; and it is chiefly applicable to engines of the steam-turbine class.

My object is to so arrange the engines and couple up the steam connections as to enable the engines to be operated more economically under all conditions of power and speed that is, my object is toenable the engines to operate with the maximum economy of steam per horse-power expended at low powers as well as at high powers and also at slow speeds as well as at high speeds. I

In all modern engines of high economy the steam is expanded successively in a series of cylinders or engines, the first of which cylinders or engines takes steam directly from the boiler and exhausts into' the next 'linder, which again exhausts into the next, and so on throughout the series. r

I am aware that at present for mechanical reasons the exhaust-steam from one cylinder is sometimes caused to supply two low-pressure cylinders, so as to more nearly equalize the weight of the moving parts acting on the several crankshafts. I am aware also that live steam is sometimes admitted to the lowpressure steam-chest directly from the boiler forstarting purposes, or for the purpose of increasing the power of the engine under ex- My invention, however, does not concern itself with such mechanical purposes as I have indicated.

My invention consists in new methods of arranging, proportioning, and operating a set of steam-turbines so as to enable economy to be maintained under widely-varying conditions, such as occur in connection with ma rine steam propulsion.

In carrying my invention into effect say to a case where four screw-shafts are used, each shaft being driven by a separate compound steam-turbine-J so couple these four separate turbinesby s uitable valves and pipes that when reduced power is required for cruis out the series.

Serial No. 672,594. (No model.)

pose I arrange turbines Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 so that the capacity or volume increases successively from one to four-that is, generally speaking, the capacity of No. 2 is greater than the capacity of No.1, and so on through By this arrangement the steam, practically speaking, continually expands from the moment of entering No. 1 until it finally discharges at the low-pressure end of No. 4: to the condenser. This variation in capacity may be secured either by increase in actual dimensions from one to four or by the increase in speed of rotation, or a combination of both; also, each individual turbine of the series is preferably graduated in capacity, so that the turbines at the inlet end are smaller than those at the exit end. When greater power, however, is required, the pipe connections are so made that the high-pressure steam from the boiler is admitted to the inlet of No. 1 and also to the inlet of No.2 and passes from the exit of No. 1 to the inlet of No. 3 and from the exit of No. 2 to the inlet of N o. 4, then from the exit of Nos. 3 and 4- to the condenser, and thus the steam flows through all four turbines in what may be described as compound parallel.

Usually the compound -=parallel coupling will be sufficient for most purposes; but in exceptional cases I may arrange the valves so as to admit the high-pressure steam to each inlet of Nos. 1, 2, 3, and at turbines and connect the exit of each turbine to the condenser. The coupling is then in simple parallel; but in such cases Where great power is required I generally prefer to arrange the turbines so that the compound-parallel coupling may suffice. I may also sometimes in cases where the boiler-pressure has to be reduced arrange the valves so that Nos. 1 and 2 shall be in parallel and Nos. 3 and 4 in series, re ceiving their steam from the exit of No. 2 and also No. 1. used to enable the boiler-pressure to be lowered to atmospheric pressure when going into action.

In order that the expansion of the steam shall be properly distributed throughout the turbines under both conditions of workingthat is, either while working in compound parallel or in series-itis necessary, generally speaking, as I have already described, to make the capacity increase from No. 1 throughout the series continually or by moderate steps in the capacity. While operating, however, at full power in compound parallel, the pressures delivered on the several screw-shafts will not be equal. This, however, I meet by a small Variation in the screws on the several shafts, and also sometimes by a modification of the capacities of the turbines from the sizes most economical for series working, which modification does not detract materially from their efficiency under either arrangement of coupling.

. My invention may be Varied; but the essential features consist in so proportioning the number and form of turbines and so connectin g them by suitable valves and pipes that I am enabled to operate them economically either in series, the steam passing from one to the other, or in compound or simple parallel, the steam being supplied to the highpressure end of one, two, three, or four of the lot and discharged into the condenser or the atmosphere through four or a less number at the low-pressure end or ends of separate turbines. Under the invention thus it is evident that the turbines may be placed in pairs on each of two screw-shafts instead of four, or three screw-shafts and six turbine motors may be used.

Four shafts and eight turbine motors may be used in this case if the shafts be numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4 and the motors A A B B O O D D. Then for series working the steam will pass through the motors in the orderA A B B C O D D and for compound parallel working through A B O D in series from boiler to condenser and similarly throughout A B G D; also, from boiler to condenser. Also further modifications may be made in the coupling for exceptional cases. In such cases by a proper combination of the turbine sets on each shaft a greater number of different powers may be dealt with by suitable combination of the turbines 011 the steam distribution and a greater degree of economy realized, especially so in the case of large war-ships where the engines are required to run with the greatest economy at various cruising speeds, as well as at full power, as by means of alarge number of separate turbines of different sizes the power may be varied within large limits, and at the same time a large range of expansion in the turbines can be maintained under all circumstances.

From the description I have given it will be seen that by simply changing the connections between the engines or cylinders the 3 steam is caused to flow through different successive cylinders or engines, by which different degrees of successive expansion are se by pipe P to the condenser E.

cured and different outputs of power more economically obtained than by the methods at present in use.

I sometimes prefer to make the turbine engines in two or more distinct portions or banks of cylinders, and I then arrange the valves so that the steam may be turned through either portion or both or more portions, and under these circumstances the engines to which no steam is being supplied will preferably work in the vacuum of the condenser.

In the case of changing the course of the flow of steam through successive cylinders with an engine of the turbine class the distribution may be so carried 'out as to receive suitable drops in pressure, so as to secure a maximum efficiency under different speeds of rotation.

In carrying my invention into effect with reference to the accompanying three sheets of drawings, Figure 1, Sheet 1, showsaset of eight turbines arranged for working on four screw-shafts, according to one part of my invention. Fig. 2, Sheet 2, shows a modifica tion of my invention having four main turbine motors A, B, O, and D working on four shafts numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4. Fig. 3, Sheet 3, shows another modification in which six turbines and three screw-shafts are used.

In Fig. 1, Sheet 1, is shown aform of myinvention having a set of eight turbines A A B B C C D D arranged in banks and coupled to four screw-shafts numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4, two turbines on each shaft. Turbines A and A are coupled to shaft No. 1, turbines B and B are coupled to shaft No. 2, turbines O and O are coupled to shaft No. 3, and turbines D and D are coupled to shaft No. 4. Turbines A, B, O, and D are of regularly-increasing capacity from A to D, and the turbine blades on each of the respective motors are preferably of increasing capacity toward the exhaust ends. Turbines A, B, O, and D are similarly graduated, but each of the latter set are preferably of somewhat larger capacity than the corresponding members of the first set. In the case of series working the turbines may be connected in two Ways. In the first the main inlet-pipe P supplies steam from the boilers, which then passes through turbine A and by way of valve R and pipe P to turbine A. From A itpasses by valve R and pipe P to the inlet end of turbine B, from turbine B by valve R and pipe P to turbine B, from turbine B" by Valve R4 and P p P to turbine C, from turbine O by valve R and pipe P to turbine G, from turbine O by valve R and pipe P to turbine D, from turbine D by valve R and pipe P to turbine D, and from turbine'D In this arrangement the valves R to R inclusive, are closed.

In the second method of connecting for series working the steam passes from the boiler to turbine A by the pipe P, from turbine A by valve R and pipe Q LO turbine B, from turbine B by valve R and. pipe. Q to turbine A, from turbine A by Valve R and pipe Q to turbine B, from turbine B by valve R and pipe P to turbine C, from turbine O by valve R and pipe Q to turbine D, from turbine D by valve R and pipe Q to turbine C, from turbine O by valve R and pipe Q to turbine D, and from turbine D by pipe P to the condenser E. In this arrangement the valves R R R R R R R R are closed.

In the case of compound-parallel working the flow of steam is as follows: from the boiler by the pipe P to turbine A, from turbine A by valve R and pipe Q to turbine B, from turbine B by valve R and pipe Q to turbine G, from turbine O by valve R and pipe Q to turbine D, from turbine D by valve R and pipes P and P to the condenser E, also from the boiler by way of the pipe P through the turbine A, from turbine A by valve R and pipe Q to turbine B, from turbine B by valve R and pipe Q to turbine O, and from turbine O by valve R and pipe Q to turbine D, and from turbin'e D by the pipe P to the condenser E. The valves not mentioned in the above cases should be closed in the respective arrangements.

Either of the sets A, B, O, and D or A, B, O, and D may be used independently. Any set not being used revolves freely in vacuum.

Other combinations may be made, as will readily be seen from the above description; but the principle and mode of operation are similar.

InFig. 2, Sheet 2, a set of turbines and connections are shown of about ten thousand collective horse-power suitable for a fast vessel or a torpedo-boat destroyer. In this modification four screw-shafts are employed, only two of which are indicated in Fig. 2, numbered-1 and 4, and four turbinesA B C D act thereon for the usual forward driving; but for reversing two suitable turbine motors X and Y are shown, acting on the same shafts with the turbines C D. These motors X and Y,when operated,will drive their respective shafts in the reverse direction, thus propelling the vessel astern. When these motors are not in use for reversing, they are suitably connected.

with the condenser, so that they will be running freely in vacuum. WVhen going full power ahead, the turbine Aiakes steam from the main supply-pipe S. After partial expansion in this motor it passes by the pipe S to turbine C, where the expansion is completed, and the steam passes thence to the condenser G. Similarly the turbine B takes steam from the pipe S and passes it on by way of the pipe S after partial expansion to .the motor D,

which delivers it to the condenser H. The motors thus arranged give full power ahead. For workin g at cruising speeds and therefore with reduced power the coupling-pipes S and are utilized, and the connecting-valves T working at full power.

by pipe S to turbine D, from turbine D,

through condenser H, pipe S and valve T to turbine C, from turbine O to condenser G, where it is finally condensed. Valve T is provided to enable the pressure admitted to the two sets of turbines to be equalized when For reversing valves T and T are closed and T and T opened.

Thus steam is admitted by pipes S to turbine l X, and from turbine X by pipes S to condenser G, also by pipe S through turbine Y by pipe S to condenser 11. One or both of these reversing-motors may be used, according to the speed required in going astern.

The proportions of the internal parts of the turbine motors depend largely upon the requirements of the service for which the ship is designed. Thus if economy at full speed I is of the utmost importance turbine Ais made identical with turbine B and similarly turbine 0 identical with turbine D; but if it is desir able to secure a greater degree of economy at cruising speeds then a compromise is made, and turbine B is made of larger capacity than A, and similarly turbine O is made larger than D. In the same way the proportions of the rows of turbines on each of the motors and their graduation in size and capacity along the barrels are regulated by the abovementioned conditions, which have to be met in each class of service;

In Fig. 3, Sheet 3, is shown a modification of my invention in which three screw-shafts numbered 1, 2, and 3 are used, to Which are coupled six motors, two on each shaft, A and A on shaft No. 1, B and B on shaft No. 2, and O and C on shaft No. 3. In this group of motors I have made, for the sake of simplicity, turbines A, B, and 0, each identically the same as also A B C exactly alike, but each larger than the members of the first set. For series working the flow of steam would be as followsz' from the boiler by the pipe U to turbine A, from turbine A by valve V and pipe U to turbine B, from turbine B by valve V and pipe U by valve V and pipe U to turbine G, from turbine G byvalve V and pipe U to turbine B, from turbine B by valve V and pipe U to turbine A, from turbine A by pipes U U and U to the condenser K. For compound-parallel working the flow of steam would be-first group: from boiler by pipe U to turbine motor A, from motor A by valve V and pipe U to motor A, and from motor A by pipes U U and U to condenser K; second group: from boiler by pipe U, valve V and pipe U. to motor 13, from motor B by valve V and pipe U to motor B, and from motor B by valve V pipes U U U and U to condenser K; third group: from boiler by pipe U to valve V pipe U and valve V and pipe U to motor 0; from motor 0 by valve V and pipe U to motor 0, and from motor 0 by valve V and pipes U U U U and U to condenser K. For simple-parallel Working the steam flows from the boiler to the main parallel supply-pipes U U and U U by means of the pipes U and U. Each of the turbines A, B, and O is supplied from pipes U, U and U and each also exhausts into the condenser K. In the same way each of the turbines A, B, and O is supplied from pipes U, U and U and each exhausts into the condenser.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination, a plurality of screwshafts, a plurality of turbines and the pipes and valves forming the connection between the turbines to couple them in series in simple parallel or in compound parallel, substantially as described.

2. In combination, a plurality of screwshafts, plurality of turbines on the separate shafts, pipe connections between the turbines with valves to connect them in series or in 

